Impulsé

Impulsé is the past participle of the French verb impulser. Used as an adjective or in the passive voice, it conveys the idea of being driven, stimulated, or initiated by a force, initiative, or decision. It commonly describes actions, policies, or processes that have been set in motion or encouraged by someone or something.

Etymology and usage

The term derives from the root impuls- from Latin impulsum, through the French verb impulser. In contemporary French, impulsé is found in formal or administrative contexts, often in phrases such as un projet impulsé, une réforme impulsée, or une initiative impulsée. The feminine form is impulsée and the plural forms are impulsés (masculine) or impulsées (feminine).

Context and nuances

In everyday language, impulsé implies that movement or momentum has been generated by an external push or catalytic factor, rather than occurring spontaneously. It is distinct from impulsion, the noun meaning impulse or impetus. In technical domains such as physics, impulsion remains the standard term for impulse, whereas impulsé may appear only in broader or figurative descriptions indicating that something has been put into motion by an impulse or pulse.

Examples

La politique économique a été impulsée par des investissements publics. Le développement du secteur a été impulsé par une nouvelle réglementation. Cette interprétation peut varier selon le contexte et le registre du discours.

See also

impulser, impulsion, impulsif.